Eeek! Our Italian vacation will be here before I know it, so I’m getting a jump start on packing. We’ll be gone for two weeks overseas so I don’t want to forget any essentials. Luckily we’re traveling with our BFFs who take this trip every year so my friend Laura has been a huge help in guiding me on what to bring and what to leave at home. I’m notorious for packing the night before, but I promised myself I’d be proactive with this trip to avoid last minute stress — and I’m making good progress.

I’ll be the first to admit I’m not the best packer. Laura amazes me with how thorough she is and how well in advance she has her suitcase ready to go, but packing ahead of time has always stressed me out more than last minute packing. The reason? How can I know well in advance what I’m going to want to wear on my trip? What if I want to wear it before I leave? What if something I need for the trip is still in the laundry? Plus, we’re always so busy leading up to a trip that I just can’t spare the mental power it takes to plan ahead. But I’m bound and determined to change that! With a two week trip I knew I needed to be smart about packing — so I started thinking of what my Italian “capsule wardrobe” should be. With all my laundry finished and a few hours free this morning I got to work.

Hmmm… can you tell what my favorite colors are? 🙂 I’m a sucker for a gorgeous orangey-red. That’s going to be my go-to pop of color in Italy, with lots of white, navy, black and gray neutral pieces mixed in. Here’s a list of what I ended up packing.

7 casual tees

4 casual tanks

4 dressy tanks

5 dressy tops (some with 3/4 to full length sleeves for evenings, but all are super light/sheer)

1 skirt

2 pants (a pair of black stretch denim and white linen)

4 casual shorts (black, denim, olive green and gray)

4 maxi dresses (on the dressier side)

3 shorter casual dresses

2 swimsuits with cover ups

1 sun hat

1 scarf

3 pairs of sandals

2 pairs of sneakers

1 scarf

1 cross body bag

1 clutch

Sunglasses

A ton of the stuff I’m bringing can be mixed and matched to be dressed up or down depending on what we end up doing. We’re planning on hitting Naples, the Almafi Coast and Rome while we’re there, so I want to be prepared for everything from a casual day spent at the beach to a busy afternoon sightseeing in the city — and everything in between. What do you think of my list? I’d love to hear your packing tips and tricks! What is your go to wardrobe for long trips away from home?

I always pack the day before traveling. And if I know Im going to be away for more than 3 days or so (in this case, 2 weeks) i make sure to make a list of things the week before and then start colleting stuff during the traveling week. Writing down the things i need relieves my mind of that stress and allowes me to bring with me only the essentials.

You haven’t missed a thing. Don’t know if things have changed but I know when visiting Churches no sleeveless tops. Always carry a scarf or shawl to cover shoulders.
I’m so excited for you. Have a great time. Bon viaggio. G

Good Job Brie! One time in Hawaii I forgot my swim cover and ended up borrowing my husbands dress shirt and it really looked cute on the beach. I always take the largest handbag as my carry on bag. I load it with my makeup and anything I think I will need on the plane ….It’s a long ride….Enjoy your trip!!!!